Role of community volunteers in pediatric eye screening.

Visual disability, particularly in children, can lead to a high mortality, economic loss and burden to the individual, family, community and the nation as a whole (Holden 2007; Roberts, Hiratsuka et al. 2010). Approximately 30,240 children are estimated to be blind in Nepal (Apex Body for Eye Health, Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal, 2011). One of the reasons of this high number might be due the prevalent gender inequality in Nepal (Shrestha, Chan et al. 2012). Early referral, community intervention, treatment and follow-up in an effective model are needed to reduce the burden of avoidable childhood blindness (Bowman 2005).